End construction for shipping containers



y 3, 1969 A. H. MEIJERS 3,443,735

END CONSTRUCTION FOR SHIPPING CONTAINERS Filed July 22, 1966 ANTON/E HERMAN MEIJERS United States Patent 3,443,735 END CONSTRUCTION FOR SHIPPING CONTAINERS Antonie Herman Meijers, Luelsdorf, near Sieburg, Germany, assignor to Inland Steel Company, Chicago, III.,

a corporation of Delaware Filed July 22, 1966, Ser. No. 567,296 Int. Cl. B65d 5/56, 25/14, 5/40, 5/62, 5/58, 5/60 US. Cl. 229-14 11 Claims ABSTRACT. OF THE DISCLOSURE A shipping container with an internal liner of liquid tight flexible material and having an end construction adapted to be reliably closed and sealed by an end cover even when the liner is slightly wrinkled or folded in the chime regions of the container. The end construction of the container includes an internal circumferential ledge formed near the mouth of the cylindrical body of the container, and a gasket is clamped over the ledge and the end of the mouth with the liner interposed between the gasket and body and with both the gasket and the liner extending above and over the end of the body.

This invention relates generally to cylindrical shipping containers, such as drums, and more particularly to an end construction and closure for such drums. In its more detailed aspects, it relates to an end construction for shipping drums having an inner liner of liquid tight flexible sheet material.

Shipping containers of the type to which the present invention is directed generally comprise a cylindrical body having a reinforced circumferential bead or chime at each end, with the ends being additionally provided with suitable closures. The walls of the container may be of any suitable material, but the present invention finds particular applicability to containers in which the body is made of fibre, paperboard or similar material. It is, however, equally applicable to containers having side walls of steel or other metal.

Containers of this type are often utilized for the transport of liquids. Since side wall materials such as fibre, paperboard and the like are not generally liquid tight, the interior of the container body wall is provided with a liquid tight lining of flexible sheet material such as sheet plastic. With such a lining, difficulties are often encountered in achieving a liquid tight seal when securing a lid or other closure to the ends of the container. The internal lining, being formed in a generally tubular shape, often develops folds or wrinkles in the particular region of the chime and closure. These folds or wrinkles prevent a reliable liquid tight seal from being achieved at the end of the container, particularly where a removable lid is to be provided, such as in the case of shipping drums in which a wide mouth is desired for ease of filling and emptying.

In view of these requirements, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved end construction for shipping containers having a lining of flexible sheet material, which construction assures the achievement of a reliable liquid tight seal between the container and its closure. This object is particularly directed at providing an end construction for such containers which lends strength to the container while accommodating the folds or wrinkles which are likely to form in the flexible sheet material liner at the point of closure attachment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid tight shipping container having an internal liner of flexible plastic sheet material which is easily and reliably scalable, openable and re-sealable. More specifically, it is ice an object to provide such a shipping container which may be made of fibre, paperboard or similar material as well as of conventional metal construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of a shipping container incorporating the end construction of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section of the shipping container of the present invention with a lid closure and clamping ring shown in sealing relationship.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment and :method of construction, it will be understood that the invention is not to be so limited, but it is intended that the invention cover all alternative and equivalent constructions as may be included in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a shipping container incorporating the improved closure of the present invention. The container comprises a cylindrical body wall 10 which may be constructed of any suitable material such as fibre, paperboard or the like, as well as of more conventional metal construction. For illustrative purposes, the container of FIG. 1 is of fibre construction, and incorporates the improved end construction of the present invention at the upper end of the body wall 10 only. A conventional rolled chime construction is used at the opposite end, and utilizes a reinforcing ring 11 and a bottom closure which may be constructed in any conventional manner as well as in the manner taught by this invention. At the mouth, or open end of the container, a lid 12 is provided .which is constructed of material similar to that of the body wall 10. The lid '12 abuts a circumferential bead or internal rib 13 adjacent to and slightly inset from the upstanding flange 15 which comprises the topmost edge of the container mouth. The rib 13 thereby comprises a ledge or support for the lid 12, guiding and locating the lid within the mouth of the container as it seats against the rib 13.

The container is made liquid tight by providing an internal lining on both body wall 10 and lid 12 which consists of an impervious flexible sheet material, such a polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or other plastic sheet material. The lid liner 16 is formed of a single circular piece of such material, while the body liner 17 may be formed as a seamless extruded tube, or, alternatively, fabricated into a tube from a flat sheet with a taped seam where the ends of the sheet abut or overlap.

It will be observed that in forming the inner liner 17 out of impervious sheet material in either extruded or fabricated tubular form, some stretching, folding, wrinkling or other distortion is necessary to cause the sheet material to follow the convolutions of the inwardly extending rib "13 which comprises the ledge upon which the lid 12 is seated. With conventional container constructions, the presence of such folds and wrinkles creates an unevenness which is extremely difiicult to seal with conventional lid closure constructions, even with those employing gaskets of various kinds. With the present invention, however, the provision of a convoluted sealing washer 20 having an extension 21 which reaches above and around the upstanding fiange 15 insures that sufiicient area is provided for the seal between the gasket 20 and the body liner 17 so that leakage is effectively prevented.

Pursuant to the invention, the sealing washer or gasket 20 is provided which is sandwiched between the lid 12 and the rib 13 against which the lid abuts. As is best shown in FIG. 2, the sealing washer is preferably formed with a thickened inner sealing portion which tapers in thickness toward its outer periphery 21. The thickened portion of the sealing washer 20 overlies at least a part of the top surface or ledge of the internal rib 13, and is clamped between the rib and the lid 12 when the shipping container is assembled. The peripheral portion 21 of the sealing washer '20 is formed to overlie the flexible liner 17 and to follow the convolutions of the upstanding flange 15 which comprises the container mouth so as to form a broad sealing area over that portion of the liner 17 which lies immediately adjacent the innermost diameter of the rib 13, under the area of abutment of the lid 12. and around and over the top of the upstanding flange 15 to a point somewhat below the topmost portion of this flange. A considerable sealing area is thereby assured which makes the seal afforded by the construction of the present invention both positive and reliable, especially when used with a closure which must be opened and resealed repeatedly during the life of the container.

The sealing washer 20 is preferably made of a resiliently deformable material such as sponge rubber, flexible plastic, or the like. This flexibility assures that the washer 20 is enabled to conform itself to any folds, wrinkles or other irregularities in the inner liner 17 in the area of the rib 13 and the upstanding flange 15.

The effectiveness of the seal is further assured by a circumferential stiffening band 22 having an inwardly turned portion 23 which tightly holds the convoluted portion 21 of the sealing washer 20 against the upstanding flange 15 as well as serving to strengthen the area of the chime. The band 22 may be formed by known techniques, such as wheeling, turning, rolling or folding to tightly conform it to the outer surface of the ridge 13 and to tightly grip and retain the sealing washer 20. The sealing washer 20 is thereby made an integral part of the container body itself, and cannot become shifted out of position or lost.

The lid 12, as previously described, is preferably constructed with its own liquid tight sheet material lining 16 which is wrapped over a thickening or head 25 on the periphery of the lid. A reinforcing ring 26 is then crimped or rolled in place around the head 25 to securely hold the liner 16 in place as well as serving to reinforce the lid 12. The flat, smooth lower surface of the reinforcing ring 26 thus serves as the mating surface which abuts the sealing washer 20 and assures a reliable liquid tight seal. The larger diameter of the reinforcing ring 26 assures that the washer 20 is firmly clamped against the seating ledge of the rib 13 when the lid 12 is in place.

In carrying out the invention, it is desirable to size the lower portion of the lid reinforcing ring 26 so that it does not completely overlie and cover the sealing washer 20. As shown in FIG. 2, this allows a certain amount of contact to be made between the sealing Washer 20 and the lid liner 16 along the inner circumference of the washer, thereby effectively preventing the contents of the container from coming in substantial contact with the lower flange of the reinforcing ring 26. Corrosion or other deterioration of the flange 2'6 and other parts of the container is thereby avoided. The effectiveness of this seal is further enhanced by providing means for compressing the sealing gasket 20 to cause it to tightly conform itself to the undersurface of the lid 12 and the lid liner 16. Clamping force is provided by a 'U-section clamping ring 30 which is split at a point on its periphery to enable it to be sprung open slightly and slipped over the flange 15. By providing a bevelled portion 31 Where the clamp ring 30 contacts the lid reinforcing flange 26, a wedging action is provided which forcefully urges the lid 12 down against the sealing washer 20, causing it to deform in the manner previously described and increasing the effectiveness of the seal. The clamp ring 30 is drawn together by a latch 32 to Wedge the lid 12 into engagement with its seat. While a clamp ring 30 is illustrated in the present embodiment, it will be appreciated that other clamping Y means such as C-clamps may be utilized with equal effectiveness.

It may therefore be seen that the seal of the container of the present invention is eifected in the first instance by the lid 12 through the underside of the reinforcing ring 26 tightly engaging and biting into the sealing washer 20, and concurrently by the sealing washer outer edge 21 being clamped by the reinforcing band 22 against the body liner 17 in a liquid tight manner. In this way the passages which tend to be formed by folds or wrinkles in the inner liner 17 in the region of the top surface of the rib 13 are effectively sealed and cannot cause leakage.

In the preferred embodiment, provision is made for the escape of air from between the body wall 10 and the body liner 17. This is accomplished by the provision of a plurality of vent holes 33 around the periphery of the body wall 10. In the case of naturally porous fiber or paperboard containers, the natural porosity of the body wall material may be suflicient for this purpose. When the container is filled, the inner liner 17 is thereby allowed to expand and fill the entire space within the body wall 10, and air which might otherwise be trapped between the liner and the wall is allowed to escape. The vent holes 28 are preferably positioned in the region of the reinforcing band 22 just beneath its lower edge. They are thus protected by the band 22 to prevent moisture or dirt from penetrating into the openings, while the presence of the band 22 does not seal them to the extent that the escape of entrapped air from between the body wall 10 and the inner seal 17 is prevented.

I claim as my invention:

1. An end construction for shipping containers having a cylindrical body terminating at one end in a mouth opening and. having an internal liner of flexible sheet material comprising, in combination, an internal circumferential bead at one end of said body adjacent said mouth opening defining an annular ledge therein, said liner overlying saidledge and extending above and overlying the end of said body, a deformable annular sealing gasket overlying said ledge and extending above and overlying both said body end and the portion of said liner overlying said ledge and body end, and a circumferential reinforcing band encircling said mouth and overlying said gasket and liner adjacent said ledge in clamping relationship thereto, thereby deformably urging said gasket into sealingrelationship with said liner and said container mouth.

2. The shipping container end construction of claim 1 in which said container body is of air-permeable fibrous material.

3. The shipping container end construction of claim 1 in which said mouth opening comprises an upstanding circumferential flange defining a cylindrical opening adapted to receive a circular lid.

4. The shipping container end construction of claim 1 in which said sealing gasket includes a thickened annular portion overlying said ledge.

5. A shipping container comprising, in combination, a. cylindrical body having an end construction as defined in claim 1, a closure at the opposite end, a lid having a smooth annular sealing face engageable with said gasket over an annular area abutting said gasket and overlying said ledge, and means for clamping said lid against said gasket, said liner being interposed between said gasket and said ledge in sealing relationship.

6. The shipping container of claim 5 in which said clamping means comprises a U-section split ring engageable with said body and said lid and having a bevelled annular surface for wedging said lid against said gasket and said ledge, and latching means for circumferentially tightening said split ring.

7. The shipping container of claim 5 in which said lid has a liner of flexible sheet material secured at its periphery by a circumferential reinforcing ring having an inturned lower edge defining said smooth annular sealing face.

8. The shipping container of claim 5 in which said lid has a liner of flexible sheet material secured at its periphery by a circumferential reinforcing ring having an inturned lower edge defining the outer portion of said smooth annular sealing face, the inner portion of said face being defined by the exposed surface of the sheet material liner.

9. The method of making an end construction for shipping containers comprising the steps of forming a cylindrical body member having a mouth and an internal circumferential bead adjacent to said mouth defining an annular ledge therein, applying an internal liner of flexible sheet material over said mouth and ledge and extending above and over the end of the body member, applying a deformable annular sealing gasket over the area of said liner which overlies said mouth and ledge with the gasket extending above and over the end of the body member, and forming a circular reinforcing band over said gasket, liner and mouth in clamping relationship thereto.

10. An end construction for shipping containers having a cylindrical body terminating at one end in a mouth opening and having an internal liner of flexible sheet material comprising, in combination, an internal circumferential bead at one end of said body adjacent said mouth opening defining an annular ledge therein over which ledge and mouth opening a portion of said liner lies, a deformable annular sealing gasket overlying said ledge and the portion of said liner overlying said ledge, a circumferential reinforcing band encircling said mouth and overlying said gasket and liner adjacent said ledge in clamping relationship thereto, thereby deformably urging said gasket into sealing relationship with said liner and said container mouth and said body having means for venting the annular space between said body and said liner.

11. An end construction for shipping containers having a cylindrical body terminating at one end in a mouth opening and having an internal liner of flexible sheet material comprising, in combination, an internal circumferential bead at one end of said body adjacent said mouth opening defining an annular ledge therein over which ledge and mouth opening a portion of said liner lies, a deformable annular sealing gasket overlying said ledge and the portion of said liner overlying said ledge, and a circumferential reinforcing band encircling said mouth and overlying and directly engaging a portion of said gasket adjacent said ledge in clamping relationship thereto, thereby deformably urging said gasket into sealing relationship with said liner and said container mouth.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,145,613 1/1939 Shenk 220-63 2,511,481 6/1950 Schneider. 3,186,620 6/1965 Meijers 2295.7

DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 29-505; 2295.7 

